Fastener



March 6, 1928.

1,661,537 A. L. KNAPP FASTENER Filed April 50, 1923 .gn/Genion: (T1211 ez' v1L Kqpp,

Patented Mar. 6, 1928.

UNITED STATES '11,661,532 PATENT OFFICE.

ARCHER LKNAPP, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 IPACKRID MOTOR CAB COMPANY, OI" DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

FASTENER.

Application nica April 3o, 1923. serial No. 635,469.

ing description taken in connection with the` drawing, which forms'a part of this specification, and in which: f

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of part of a motor vehicle provided with curtains constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partially in elevation andpartial'ly in section, through av air of curtains such as are illustrated in i0. 1, the curtains being separated;

F ig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 27 the curtains being fastened together;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a portion of the inside of one of the'curtai'ns illustrated in Fig. 1, illustratingl an application of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectonthrough a pair of unfastened curtains equipped with a different form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a. view 'similar' to Fig. 5showing the members ofthe curtain fastening means in contact with each other, and i Fig. 7 is a view through a curtain provided with a fastener of slightly different form. f

Y As is well known, the curtains of motor vehicles are frequently equipped with snap fasteners by means vof which various sec# tions of the curtains are secured to each other, or to the bod or top frame' of the vehicle. It frequent y happens that the vehicle is driven with only a portion of its unfastened. Under such circumstances `a persistent and annoying rattle is produced, while theV car is in motion, by the striking together of the two co-operating parts of the fastener, which are suspended in juxtaposition but are not connected together.

This invention rovides curtains having means to complete y deaden the aforementioned rattle, which means does not detract curtains up, or with one or more of themv bers together.

tween which are disposed side curtains 13 .v

and 14 in the usual manner. The curtains 13 and 14 are of any suitable material, such as the fabric usually employed for this purpose, and are provided with fasteners 16 by means of which they are attached to the vehicle and to each other. As illustrated these fasteners` are of the well known glove or snap variety, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applica-4` tion to such fasteners, but is applicable to other fasteners as well.

As best shown inFigs. 5 and G, the fastener is composed of two portions, a male member 17 preferably hollow as shownandv a cooperating female member 18, adapted tobe y sprung into detachable engagement there` with, in the well known manner. n These members may be, and usually are metallic stampings. The male member 17 is composed of two parts, a stud portion 19, formlng anf annular, resilient shoulder 21, and a post'portion 22. These parts are rigidly secured together in any suitable manner, as-by crimping. The post portion 22 is projected through a hole 23, cut inthe curtain 1 4, and

is secured thereto'by riveting over, as at 24,

sorthat the portion of the curtain which surrounds the hole 23 is clamped between `the two parts of themale member 17.

The female member 18 of the fastener comprises a cap or button 26, to which is se,-

cured a depending, annular, inturned flange f part 27, adapted to surround the shoulder 21. The flange 27 is of the male member 17.

provided on its interior with a s lit ring 28 to resiliently engage the shoul er 21 and spring or snap thereon to secure the mem- Thel female member 18 is seated in a suitable hole 29 in the curtain 13, which is clamped between the'cap and the flanged member in the usual manner. It will be understood that the'snap` fastener so far describedisof theusual` well known construction. When the members 17 and l18 of such a device are unfastened, vi'- bration of the curtains 13 and 14, such as would be occasioned by motion of the vehicle, causes them to strike together continuously, producing the rattling sound above `eferred to.

y To overcome this objection, this invention contemplates the use of cushioning means between the co-operating members of the fastener. In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, a flap or pad 31 of suitable sound deadening material such as fabric is sewed to the curtain above one of the fastening members and depends in such position as to cover one of these members. In this manner when the curtains are unfastened the flap 31 will lie between the flange 27 of the female member and the shoulder 21 of the male member so as to prevent contact between them, and thus prevent the rattling sound above referred to. IVhen it is desired to fasten the curtains together the flap 31 is turned upwardly to a position such as that illustrated in Fig. 3, when the co-operating parts of the fastener may be pushed into engagement in the usual manner. The flap 31 1s preferably somewhat thinner and more flexible than the material composing the curtains 13 and 14, so that it may be readily folded and will be supported between the curtains in an opstanding position, as illustrated in Fig. 3. By concealing the fastening member the flap 31 also enhances the neat appearance of the curtains.

In Figs 5 and 6 is illustrated another form of the invention, which provides a plug 33, of suitable resilient or sound deadening material, such as rubber, preferably placed within the hollow male portion 17 of the fastener, projecting slightly therefrom so as to receive and cushion the tapping of the female member 18 thereagainst. |Ihe plug 33 may be secured in the male portion in any suitable manner. As illustrated in Fig. 5, it is held in place by frictional engagement, but it is understood that it may be cemented or otherwise secured in position. The plug 33 extends above the stud and radially as far as the crest of the shoulder 21, to insure cushioning of the contacting member 18, and the central portion of its face is preferably cut away, as shown at 34, to prevent interference with the central portion of the button 26.

It will be seen that as the curtains 13 and 14 vibrate from the vehicle motion, or from other causes, while the fasteners are unfastened, the parts of the fastener will repeatedlyA assume the positions shown in Figs. 5 and G` respectively. By reference to Fig. 6 however, itV will be seen that when the motion of the curtains tends to bring the fastening members 17 andlS together, the

plug orbumper 33 will strike againstthe other member of the fastener, ,thus preventing the contact of metallic parts and the ensuing rattlc. The plug 33 is, however, readily compressible, and is easily squeezed within the ring 28 when it is desired to snap the members 17 and 1S into engagement.

In Fig. 7 is illustrated the male member of a fastener of the type in which the stud portion 19 and the post portion 22 are clamped together on the curtain 14 by means of a rivet 3G. In this structure the head 37 of the rivet 36 is sunk into the plug 33 thus securing it, the stud portion 19, and the post portion 22 together. It will be evident that either of the members of the fastener may be secured to other objects than curtains; for example the male member may be secured to the body or to the top bow of an automobile.

It will be understood that various forms of the invention other than those described above may be used without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a fastener comprising a hollow male member and a female member adapted to co-operate therewith, of a resilient plug secured in the hollow male member and projecting axially and radially therefrom to cushion the female member.

Q. In a. fastener comprising a hollow male member and a female member adapted to co-operate therewith, a resilient plug secured in one of the members and projecting axially and radially therefrom to cushion the contact of the other member.

3. A fastener comprising a male member having a. stud portion and a post portion, a female member to co-operate with the male member, a resilient plug mounted in the stud portion and means in the post portion for securing the plug in position.

4. A fastener comprising a` male member having a hollow stud. port1on and a hollow post portion, a female member to cai-operate with the malev member, a resilient plug mounted in the stud portion and means mounted axially in the post portion for securing the post portion, stud portion and plug together. y

5. A fastener comprising a male member having a shouldered recessed stud portion and a. hollow post portion, a female member to co-operate with the male member, a rcsilient plug in the recessed stud portion ex tending axially and radially therefrom and means mounted in the post portion for bindmg the post portion, stud portion and plug together.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ARCHER L. KNAPP.

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